I Started The Lysa TerKeurst Trustworthy Study This Is What I Think -

Three weeks ago my wonderful Propel My Half co-leader, Amy, texted asking if I want to join her and her daughter in a Bible study. I quite literally jumped out of my seat- nearly dropping my phone in the process. For months I’ve been praying for a deep Bible study that fits with my schedule and here it was. The next day my copy of the “Trustworthy” study guide by Lysa TerKeurst arrived and we began the first week’s daily devotion in preparation for our first large group meeting. I’ve come to really enjoy this study and I think many people will find this to be a helpful tool in navigating the Bible. I decided to put together a review and share my thoughts on why I like this study so those debating on purchasing, and participating in this study can learn more about what they can expect.

Where to buy the study: Bookshop

Are you exhausted trying to keep everything under control because you fear God won’t come through?

When hard times come and it seems God is deviating from the plan we assume our life should follow, we’re much more likely to want to tame God, not trust Him. It’s then that we begin to press into our own ways and our own timing. No human can carry the weight of being their own god, but so many of us try.

Join Lysa TerKeurst in Israel as she honestly reveals the places of distrust in her own heart while exploring the deeply personal and applicable scriptures that will teach us how to truly trust God. Through this study of 1 and 2 Kings, you’ll learn to:

Loosen the grip of trying to control people and circumstances in your life by taking steps today to truly rely on God.
Identify your own trust issues with God and how to overcome them by unpacking pivotal, relevant life lessons from the kings of the Old Testament.
Find relief from fear or doubt about how things will turn out with 10 scriptural truths you can declare over your situation right now.

Lysa TerKeurst Trustworthy Study Week 1 Review:

Week 1 began with a video, in which all of the weeks/ sections have paired with the daily devotions. This video introduced the study, Lysa, and helped to provide an overview of what to expect and the breakdown/ flow of this study.

An Overview Of Week 1: Saul, Davis, and Solomon

Each week has a theme and is broken down into five days. Below is an overview of how the first week is structured.

Day 1: King Saul
Day 2: King David
Day 3: King Solomon
Day 4: The Temple
Day 5: The Wives
Digging Deeper
Video Session 2: Solomon
Group Guide
Week 2 Introduction

I was a bit nervous to begin this study because I haven’t participated in one since my head injury and processing information like this can be overwhelming and lead to headaches. What I like about this study guide is how the individual can pace themselves. This also integrates with how our group has structured the study. We meet weekly after completing days 1-5, and discuss what stood out to us, how the Lord is challenging us, and then watch the video for the following week while completing the group guide. The first day our group met we spoke about how long it takes us to complete each day. The times vary from 30 minutes to 1.5/2 hours, which is my time. The average time for the other ladies is about 30/40 minutes depending on the day.

Initial Thoughts On The Study:

At first, I thought the Trustworthy study was a bit lengthy and boring. But, I changed my mind on day 2. Day 1 was just a bit of a rough introduction for me because I didn’t like flipping back and forth between various books of the Bible. Lysa did disclaim this style of studying in the guide’s introduction and explained she structures the lessons like this because background information from other books of the Bible is needed in order to actually understand what is going on, who the kings are, and why they were/ are relevant.

Other studies I have done- or rather attempted to and given up on have attempted this structure and failed. What separates Lysa’s study and keeps me engaged is how she connects the passages and writes the study from her own perspective. She doesn’t ask surface-level questions. They are deep, thought-provoking, and life-examining. I like how she explains the passages we read and breaks down what the language, words, and chapters are about. At first glance, the study seems overwhelming, but it isn’t because of the fluidity of the structure. Some pages offer a diagram, maps, and various charts to help understand the lessons. I truly enjoy this style because I’m a visual learner and helping to find certain information from passages and fill things in ensures I’m retaining the information, but also understanding what I’m reading.

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The thing I like most about the study besides the content is the space. Most studies have small answer sections, and I have to cram all of my thoughts/ questions into an itty bitty space, and when I go back later to read it, struggle big time. Lysa leaves a ton of room. Between the large answer areas, the margins, and notes pages I’m able to jot down everything and anything coming to mind.

How I’m Studying This:

What I’ve found to help me study this guide is highlighting and annotating each page. Lysa explains and provides additional background information about the passages required for the day, and I end up notating her explanations which helps me when I’m going back to review and also think deeper about what that day’s assignment was.

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Week 1 Takeaway

There are a lot of valuable pieces of information from week 1. Currently writing this, I’m beginning week 3 of the study, and I remember the information we learned from that section. Lysa does a great job of referring back to the other weeks and elaborating on the previous week’s verses to help dive deeper into the scripture. Most importantly, I like the fluidity of the study. Some can be rather choppy and hard to follow. This one is not. I often find myself thinking back on the reflection questions from week 1. I’m becoming more aware of my own thoughts/ behavior and applying what we learned to everyday life. Below are key points I really connected with and think are exceptional. Below are Lysa’s quotes from the Week 1 study:

Day 1

“I’d asked God for this opportunity, but then I’d worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure I’d get it. This opportunity was the product of my trying reply hard, not trusting God. And I felt the weight of my hustle”.
“There is a weight to our every want”.
“God is in control. But he doesn’t control our choices”.
“God’s will of command is actually an indication of whether or not we trust Him”.

Day 2

“When we feel rejected by people, we feel like we’ve been overlooked by God as well”.
“When you’ve been chose by God, even people’s rejections will not override God’s assignment”.
“Trust in God can start to feel shaky- when I make assumptions about God’s timing, protection, and provision that don’t play out in my life like I thought they would”.
“Progress is being made, but it’s slow. And shaky at times”.
“Trust is hard for me. But it’s doubly hard to rebuild”.
“His timing, His protection, or His provision didn’t look at all like you thought it would”.
“I don’t think answers to our “why” questions would make our circumstances better to give us a peace in the midst of them”.
“Pursue something different. Pursue learning hoe to daily rely on God”.

Day 3

“Why would a loving God do something so harsh and seemingly unfair?”
“Exploring these tragedies together we can learn even more about God’s character and His goodness no matter what”.
“We all need wisdom straight from God- for decision-making, for helping others, for understanding another person’s viewpoint”.

Day 4

“Not all good ideas are God ideas”.
“God would remain faithful to all those who would be repentant ad turn toward Him”.
“A city on a hill”.
“There is a significant shift from unconditional to conditional”.
“We don’t have to understand the why of God’s way. But we do have to keep choosing to follow them”.

Day 5

“You cannot enter into an intimate love relationship with someone without that person not only affecting your mind and your body but also your soul”.
“God isn’t after our earthly accomplishments”.
“He doesn’t want is going through the motions of devotion”.
“Half-hearted trust is simply distrust”.